I am often asked the question: “Which style of yoga do you teach?” My answer is always “traditional yoga,” which focuses on the ancient principles and methods of practising yoga. This is a holistic approach to overall health (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual), by following authentic practices which have not been altered with a modern twist to yoga. A traditional approach helps one improve their overall health and achieve a perfect balance in life. Achieving this ideal equilibrium is called “YOGYAM,” as said in the Sanskrit language.

There are now so many names attached to yoga practices being offered that one can get easily confused over what they mean and what is the best choice for your yoga practice.

Most of the names of yoga styles people read or hear about have been given by various modern teachers over the past several decades. They have created their own variation of practising yoga in order to distinguish themselves from others.

Commonly known styles of yoga are Vinyasa, Bikram, Yin, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, etc. I will briefly describe some of them for a general understanding of what they mean:

Vinyasa — also called “flow yoga,” as there are transitions between poses. The focus on breathing is extremely important in this practice. Vinyasa yoga has alot of movements in its practice.

Bikram Yoga — This style is practised in a hot, sauna-like room at 40.6 degrees Celsius and approximately 40 per cent humidity. It is a practice fixed at 26 poses and two breathing exercises performed in each class. Pregnant women and those with heart problems must consult their doctor first before trying this practice.

Yin Yoga — is a challenging practice where one holds a yoga posture from five to 20 minutes.

Ashtanga —In the mid-1900s, the name was taken from the original texts of yoga and applied to a physically demanding yoga practice (also known as Ashtanga flow). It involves synchronizing breathing with a progressive and continuous series of postures. This version of Ashtanga yoga is an athletic yoga practice and is not for beginners.

Iyengar Yoga — this practice relies heavily on using props like blocks, straps, boards etc. The practice promotes strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance through co-ordinated breathing and poses that require precise body alignment. The poses are generally held longer than in other styles of yoga.

Power Yoga — is a discipline created in the past few decades that combines stretching and strength training. Instead of pausing between poses as you would in traditional yoga, each move flows into the next, making it an intense aerobic workout.

Restorative Yoga — In a restorative yoga class you'll spend long periods of time lying on blocks, blankets and yoga bolsters, passively allowing muscles to relax.

The traditional yoga I practice and teach is called YOGYAM Yoga — it is a traditional way of practising the original Ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga of Indian sage Patanjali. I use traditional Hatha yoga practices with a meditative component, providing numerous holistic health benefits for those practising this style.

To choose a style suitable for you, I would recommend one do some research on any that interests you. One should also consider the level of the class being offered. We must remember that each of us has a unique body, and each has different levels of capabilities. One should select a class level based on physical capacity, flexibility level, and health conditions. The most common levels of classes are:

Level 1 — Easy or gentle, on a mat or chair (recommended for those who cannot do vigorous exercise).

Level 2 — Regular practice (recommended for those in reasonable to good physical condition).

Level 3 – Intermediate (recommended for those in good physical condition and are somewhat flexible).

Level 4 — Advanced (recommended for those in good physical condition and have been practising yoga regularly, with good flexibility).

Yoga Tip: Never get intimidated with another person’s practice. Select a class most suitable to your body type and your needs. Always remember: The ancient practice of Yoga teaches us to respect and honour our bodies as they are instruments to achieve the higher goal of our existence.

Vineeta lives in Westmount, and has her Master of Science degree in Yoga from India. She teaches classes in therapeutic yoga and meditation, and provides yoga therapy and reiki energy healing treatments throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Her column will appear monthly in the Cape Breton Post. For more information on her programs, visit www.ehyoga.com.